England ‘devastated’ after New Zealand defeat but Eoin Morgan still targeting 2022 T20 World Cup

Eoin Morgan admitted his England side were left “devastated” after losing their T20 World Cup semi-final to New Zealand.

England memorably edged out the Kiwis in 2019 to win the 50-over World Cup, but this time around a stunning innings from Jimmy Neesham turned the tide in favour of New Zealand.

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The No 6 struck three sixes on his way to 27 runs from just 11 balls, sending Kane Williamson’s side into a final against Australia which they ended up losing.

“We’ve played against Jimmy a lot and he’s not struck the ball like that against us ever,” Morgan said. “Everything worked right up until the point he came in. It’s a fantastic cameo in high-pressure circumstances when his team needed it.

“We’re devastated. To be on the wrong side of a close game is not easy to take. We fought unbelievably well on a wicket that didn’t necessarily suit our batting and we were brilliant with the ball.

“We were right in the game until Jimmy came to the wicket, if not ahead of the game.

“The hitting ability within our squad is quite strong and that the guys didn’t feel like they could clear the ropes due to the nature of the pitch was a good indication that it wasn’t coming on to the bat that well.

“I think that continued throughout the Black Caps’ innings until Jimmy came to the crease. He was probably the only guy that came out and showed the ability to strike the ball cleanly from ball one.”

Australia went on to beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the Dubai final and are now the favourites to lift the trophy again on home soil next year. The best online cricket betting sites are offering odds of around 10/3 for Australia to succeed again at the 2022 T20 World Cup.

India are just behind at 3/1, despite not making it out of the group stage in the Middle East this time around.

And England – runners up in 2016 – are available at odds of around 7/2.

And while captain Morgan may be 36 by the time the next T20 World Cup kicks off in Australia next October, he has set his sights on leading his country out again.

“I hope so,” Morgan said when asked if he would like to continue as England skipper after the New Zealand defeat.

“I think I’m still offering enough within the side. I absolutely love playing cricket at the moment for the changing room, the guys give absolutely everything. Those that are going to get better, they are at the forefront of change both on and off the field with a lot of things to be proud about, not just on the field.

“So I am incredibly proud to be their leader.

“Coming into the game we knew both sides were very close in skill and both play a great brand in cricket.

“Full credit to Kane and his team, they outplayed us today. Unfortunately in a tight game, we have come off on the wrong end of the stick.

“I can’t fault anything that we have done tonight. We’ve fought unbelievably hard throughout this tournament. I think we’ve represented ourselves really well and tonight we have continued to do the same thing and we have come up short.

“That can happen in cricket, but I am extremely proud of the guys, the way they have given absolutely everything throughout this tournament.

“I thought we were right in the game, right from our innings until probably the 17th, 18th over. They built right up until they had to push the button and then they came good. So their plan came off.

“I thought we held them at bay and had them exactly where we wanted them up until that point. So if you can do that you give yourself the best chance of winning, but unfortunately we didn’t.”

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